Bridge repair priorities set

Comment

The Daily Reporter - Coldwater, MI

Writer

Posted Apr. 24, 2013 at 8:57 AM

Posted Apr. 24, 2013 at 8:57 AM

Coldwater, Mich.

By Don Reid

dwreid@aol.com

COLDWATER — The Athens Road bridge over the St. Joseph River and the closed bridge over Union Lake at Arbogast are again the number one and two priorities set by the Branch County Road Commission for future work.

A resolution goes now to the Michigan Department of Transportation. Selected projects by MDOT will be funded during the 2016 fiscal year. Engineering would take place during the winter of 2015.

BCRC manager-engineer Trent Arver said the pair are the most expensive bridges to repair or replace and the too most highly-traveled. If selected for state funding, "We only pay for the design and 5 percent of the cost," estimated at $2.03 million for Arbogast, Arver said.

Arver said since the bridge 3.76 miles west of Union City was closed in 2010 it has caused deterioration of the wooden bridge at Riley Dam and the Broadway Street Bridge in Union City, which have been used as detours.

The plan also calls for a pedestrian sidewalk on the bridge because it is used for fishing. Road Commissioner Gary Malcolm suggested the commission see if there is funding available from Department of Natural Resources for the $400,000 cost.

Still, the number one priority is the Athens Road Bridge because of the heavy traffic to M-60/66 and Battle Creek. There is already a load limit. Both bridges were rated under a 50 sufficiency limit in the biannual inspection.

Arver said there are two other spots that need work because of low ratings — the bridge across the Coldwater River on Central Road and Old U.S. 27 (Angola Road).

Central Road has a 36 rating and Angola Road a 42.

"It would be a major issue if one of these were closed," Arver stated.

Three other bridges have lower ratings. Gower Road with a 15 is closed; Stancer Road at the spillway dam has a 17 rating; Clay Road on Union Drain No. 2 has a 19.

"These are all local roads which could be closed," the engineer said.

Although they have local importance, the BCRC has no money for repairs. He thought Clay Road could possibly be rebuilt with under $100,000 in local funds.